Bialystoker Synagogue is at 7-11 Bialystoker Place which use to be known as Willet Street. The building was constructed in 1826 and was the Willet Street Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1905, the synagogue bought the church. Continue reading
Photography
Old City Jail
As the city of Charleston was being laid out in 1680, this 4 acre lot was set aside for public use. A hospital, poor house, workhouse for runaway slaves, and jail were built here. This 4 story jail with an octagonal tower was constructed in 1802 and operated until 1939. In 1855, Charleston architects Barbot & Seyle added a rear octagonal wing, expansions to the main building and Romanesque Revival details. The 1886 earthquake badly damaged Charleston and the tower and top story of the main building were removed. Continue reading
Edward Mooney House
At 18 Bowery in Chinatown (on the corner of Pell Street) stands the Edward Mooney House. It was built between 1785-1789. The land was seized from British Loyalist James Delancy and sold at auction for around $50,000. Edward Mooney was a wealthy merchant and ran a wholesale meat business and was a race horse breeder. He lived in the house until his death in 1800. Continue reading
Bloody Angle aka Doyers Street
Doyers Street is an angled, narrow street that runs 1 block at a sharp angle from Pell Street into the intersection of Bowery and Chatham Square. In 1791, Dutch immigrant Hendrik Doyer bought the property and ran a distillery at 6 Doyers, the spot where the post office stands today. It was once known as the Bloody Angle for the many battles of the Tong gangs (On Leong Tong and Hip Sing Tongs) of Chinatown in the late 1800s and lasting into the 1930s. The term ‘hatchet man’ was used in the late 19th century to describe a Chinese assassin who carried a handleless hatchet. Continue reading
Kahal Kadoosh Beth Elohim in Charleston
Congregation Kadosh Beth Elohim was founded in 1749 and is the 4th oldest in the nation. On wiki it says the Greek Revival building is the 2nd oldest in continual use while their pamphlet from the synagogue says it’s the oldest. Sometimes they are considered the place where Reformed Judaism was born when individuals split from the group in the mid 1800s. This new belief system spread and became the dominant belief system of American Jews. More that 90% of American synagogues were Reform by 1880. Continue reading
Audubon Swamp Garden at Magnolia Plantation
The Audubon Swamp was once a freshwater reservoir used for rice cultivation. Now it’s a black water cypress and tupedo swamp. It’s 60 acres covered by boardwalks and trails filled with local wildlife. If it’s a lucky day you can see egrets, herons, bald eagles, alligators, otters, and turtles. While walking around keep in mind these were all rice fields worked on by slaves. Continue reading
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
Magnolia Plantation is one of the most unique looking and one of the oldest plantations in South Carolina. The house we see today is the 3rd house after the first 2 burned down. Originally, the live oak lined path lead to the house. It is the one of 3 remaining plantations along the Ashley River. Most were burned down when the Union soldiers passed through during the Civil War. Magnolia is a mixed of Victorian, Georgian, and Gothic Revival architecture. It’s also one of the oldest tourist attractions in the south. Continue reading
Unitarian Church Graveyard in Charleston
The Unitarian Church, 2nd oldest in Charleston, is home to the United Universalist congregation, the oldest Unitarian church in the south. It was not built by Unitarians, it was built by the Society of Dissenters (sinister sounding but they aren’t scary at all) who needed more space to worship – they are known as the Circular Church. Walking down King Street in Charleston you will eventually stumble upon the old graveyard. It is overgrown except for the paths. Wildflowers adorn the graves and trees grow into the tombstones. It’s a beautiful cemetery and it’s said to be haunted. Continue reading
Charleston, South Carolina
This was an impulse trip and yes, we booked it because we wanted authentic southern/soul food. We had the worst staycation ever in October. We were in Philly enjoying Halloween stuff when I got news my grandma died (mom’s side). It was unexpected. We headed back to Manhattan as soon as we found out. When we got the email from Jetblue that they were having airfare sales, we were like this vacation sucks. We were already stressed out on top of it and haven’t had much us time. So we immediately got in touch with our jobs and were like – we need these days off in January. Charleston was a pleasant getaway and it cost us $740 airfare and hotel for 3 nights, travel insurance for 2 people, not per person. Great deal and such good food. Also flying south is cheaper than vacationing locally. Keep an eye out for those airfare sales. Continue reading
Snowstorm Jonas
Up until Friday night, I thought it was all media hype. Last year they kept saying we were going to get hit with blizzards and we’d wake up to 5 inches. 5 inches of snow is nothing. When I looked out my window and saw how much snow stuck and accumulated – I was so excited. This year the weather people got it right! Continue reading
Jebus Mews & Andrea 